‘Guj polls a Pandava-Kaurava battle’
Cong vice-prez Rahul says fight between truth and falsehood
Pardi (Gujarat), Nov. 3: Invoking the “Mahabharata”, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday likened his party to the triumphant Pandavas who would vanquish the Kauravas of the BJP in the battle between “truth and falsehood” in the Gujarat Assembly elections.
The Congress vice-president, on the campaign trail in Gujarat, where the BJP has used a blend of its signature Hindutva with development to rule for close to two decades without a break, has visited temples and often referred to Hindu scriptures to blunt the saffron party’s accusation of Muslim appeasement.
“The fight here is between truth and falsehood. The Kauravas had a huge army, weapons, while the Pandavas only had truth on their side and nothing else. I would like to tell you that we only have truth with us and nothing else.
“Durodhayana and Arjun both went to Krishna ahead of the Mahabharata war. Krishna advised (Kauravas) to give just five villages to the Pandavas to avoid a war. However, Duryodhana, who had power and a big army, declined to give even that (leading to war),” Mr Gandhi told a gathering at Pardi in Valsad district.
Mr Gandhi on Friday visited Sri Ranchhod temple in Kosamba town of Valsad district, and paid obeisance at the shrine dedicated to Lord Krishna, a key character in the Mahabharata who acted as a friend, philosopher and guide to the Pandavas.
Mr Gandhi started his Gujarat campaign with a visit to the Dwarkadheesh temple in Saurashtra in September. During his tour of Central Gujarat last month, the Congress leader again visited several temples.
Congress leaders have been saying that temple visits and references to ancient scriptures are an attempt by Mr Gandhi at sending out a message that his party is not against Hindus.